ERWIN, Jonnie

Jonnie Rickett Erwin, 80, passed away peacefully at her home while surrounded by her family on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Mrs. Erwin was to the late John Ervin and Sudie Parker Rickett. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law, Frank “Pete” and Bonnie Erwin; her siblings and their spouses, J.B. Rickett, Ruth and Floyd Stancell, Eva Nell and Jack Wilson; her niece, Mary Wilson.

Mrs. Erwin is survived by her husband of fifty-eight years, Terry L. Erwin; her children, Frankie Lane (Amy Carol) Erwin and Susan Denise (Tim) Frix; her grandchildren, Olivia Faith Erwin, Amelia Hope Erwin, Brittany Frix Fairbanks, Cassidy Frix, and Bryson Frix, her sister and brother-in-law, Hilda and Charlie Chadwick; sister-in-law, Norma Rickett; her great-grandchildren, Brendlee Fairbanks, Junior Fairbanks, and Willow Fairbanks, her brother-inlaw, Tony (Brenda) Erwin; many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” was the life verse of Jonnie Rickett Erwin, who lived by and validated this inspired truth through a life of faithful servitude.

Jonnie was born in Gordon County on May 17, 1941 to John Ervin and Sudie Parker Rickett. She attended Belwood Elementary school and graduated from Calhoun High School in 1960. She went on to study education at Shorter College and Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Religious Education from Covington Theological Seminary. Teaching was her passion, and she shared this love for over 35 years working as an educator at The Old Liberty School, Sonoraville Elementary, and Canaanland Christian School.

She married her high school sweetheart, Terry, on April 14, 1963; she was a faithful and loving wife to him for over 58 years. During this time, she was a devoted and inspiring mother to 2 children, 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and countless other people she taught and mentored.

She was a member of the Concord Missionary Baptist Church for over 40 years where she served as organist, Sunday school teacher, missionary correspondent, and mentor through the jail ministry. Jonnie was also an avid writer and Bible scholar producing volumes of Biblical outlines and study notes, as well as publishing a gospel tract entitled, “Is It Real?” that went on to be instrumental in guiding her son Lane to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Only eternity will tell how many more were influenced through her obedience to the Holy Spirit in writing her personal testimony of Faith in Christ through this gospel tract.

During Jonnie’s journey, she was also gifted as a wonderful seamstress, gardener, and baker as well as a wedding coordinator, wedding musician, and skilled cake decorator.

Jonnie loved her family dearly and sacrificed many luxuries to enable those around her to flourish. She loved her Lord and Savior most of all and lived out that commitment to the fullest through Christ’s strength.

We will miss you so much, but we’ll see you soon.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 6, 2021 from noon until 2:00 p.m. at Concord Baptist Church. The funeral will follow the visitation at 2:00 p.m. from Concord Baptist Church. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery. Brother Randy Sutherland and Brother Isaac Johns will officiate; Brother Bryson Frix will officiate at the graveside. Pallbearers are Brent Erwin, Eric Erwin, Eric West, Clyde Garland, Barry Rickett, Joseph Chadwick, and Jeff Dyer. Her former students will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Flowers are being accepted or donations may be made to the Concord Baptist Church Missionary Fund.

The Brannon family and staff are honored to serve the family of Jonnie Rickett Erwin. SMILE BECAUSE HE LIVED

You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him, or you can be full of the love that you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn back, or you can do what he would want: Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

— Author Unknown

REMEMBER ME Remember me in quiet days, while raindrops whisper on your pane. But in your memories have no grief, let just the joy we knew remain. Remember me when evening stars look down on you with steadfast eyes. Remember if once you wake to catch a glimpse of red sunrise. And when your thoughts do turn to me, know that I would not have you cry. But live for me and laugh for me, when you are happy, so am I. Remember an old joke we shared; remember me when spring walks by. Think once of me when you are glad, and while you live, I shall not die.

— Author Unknown

Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life.

— John Muir

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.”

— Elisabeth Kubler-Ross